AWA Asia, the Asian arm of intellectual property firm Awapatent, has hired Charlie Liu as a partner in Hong Kong from local firm Wilkinson & Grist, where he was a senior associate.
Liu’s practice focuses on trademark portfolio management, including searches, applications, oppositions, reviews and administrative appeals in the PRC. He assists multinational corporations as well as local companies from diverse industry sectors, such as luxury brands, sportswear, automobile, pharmaceutical, media, wholesale and retail and esports, in enforcing trademark rights through customs, administrative and court actions.
Prior to his stint at Wilkinson & Grist, Liu served as group legal adviser at Hong Kong telecom company PCCW.
Awapatent launched AWA Asia’s offices in Hong Kong and Beijing in February 2015 after raiding Bird & Bird for six IP lawyers, including the latter’s Greater China head of trademark portfolio management, Ai-Leen Lim. Lim is currently the CEO and principal counsel of AWA Asia.